Standings

Six Nations

It's been a history-making weekend in the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations as Ireland's victory over Scotland, coupled with England's defeat to France, gave Joe Schmidt's men the Championship for the first time in three years and keeps them on track for a third-ever Grand Slam - but with a sterling performance from Hadleigh Parkes guiding them around the turf of the Principality Stadium, Wales have shown their own class with an entertaining victory over Italy. The Azzurri have the dubious honour of the Wooden Spoon once more and have now gone 16 without a win - can they break their drought against Scotland next week in Rome? And will Wales sign off with the same flourish they showed today against France? Until then, thank you for joining us - and have a good week!

80'+3''

Italy work it down their left flank before an error sees them spill the ball. Steff Evans tries to finish with a flourish, flying crossfield to the left wing - but his attempted grubber runs dead instead to signal the full-time whistle. The Dragons have won this NatWest 6 Nations encounter to go second in the Championship table in emphatic fashion; at full-time in Cardiff, it finishes Wales 38-14 Italy.

80'+2''

North is in at the right corner after picking out a towering kick from Halfpenny - but alas, he's going to be pulled back for a forward pass in the build-up. Italy have a scrum on their own line.

80''

Yellow Card

A third yellow card of the day after the restart; this one for Italy, as Tommaso Benvenuti is sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on. Penalty to Wales.

78''

Conversion

CONVERSION: Wales 38-14 Italy. Carlo Canna adds the extras with a neat kick and the Azzurri make it a marginally more respectable scoreline.

77''

Try

TRY: Wales 38-12 Italy. Bellini is in at the left corner on the back of a great throw from Hayward and the winger skirts back in to touch down and give the travelling support something to cheer about.

76''

Steff Evans lands a neat intercept off a Hayward offload but Budd turns over the ball on the very next play to keep Italy in the hunt for a late try.

76''

Italy get a scrum from the restart as Wales fumble the ball two phases in and the Azzurri will look to try and add a consolation score.

74''

Conversion

CONVERSION: Wales 38-7 Italy. It's another tester for Halfpenny out wide but the full-back makes no mistakes and adds the extras.

72''

Try

TRY: Wales 36-7 Italy. Tipuric is in for the home side's fifth try at the wing as he picks out a floated pass from Parkes on the left wing to dive over in the corner.

71''

The Dragons are looking to sign off with a bang; North breaks down the right flank before shipping it back inside and across to the left through Samson Lee, who slips it out to Parkes on the wing. The centre tries to cut away but Italy's defence arrive belatedly and force him into touch.

69''

Conversion

CONVERSION: Wales 31-7 Italy. Halfpenny slots the extras from out on the left to take Wales over the 30-point barrier.

68''

Try

TRY: Wales 29-7 Italy. That's definitely a try! From the scrum, Patchell puts a short offload to North who crashes over on the left flank from short distance. The bonus point is theirs; the Dragons will be moving into second in the Championship table.

67''

No try! The TMO can find no conclusive proof of the grounding and Wales are denied the score. They will have the attacking scrum five metres out though as Seb Davies arrives to replace Hill.

66''

Has Parkes got his second? A Welsh return line-out sets the platform for a roving maul across the Italy line and the centre reckons he is down next to the right post. The referee will send it to the TMO...

65''

Watkin releases Steff Evans down the left wing before Wales shift it across from left to right - only for Owens to lose it in the tackle. Scrum to Italy.

63''

Patchell's kick to touch looking for a good line-out position instead drifts out the wrong side of the corner post and Italy instead get the ball.

61''

A plethora of changes for the hosts now; with Aled Davies, Rhys Patchell, Ken Owens and Rob Evans all enter the fray as Wales turnover the ball for another penalty.

60''

Two botched attempts at the scrum eventually hands Italy the penalty and the visitors are able to clear their lines.

59''

What a try that would have been! James Davies chips over the defence on halfway and regathers before offloading to Faletau, who finds Tipuric with another great pass. He takes it close to the touchline - but his late pass to Steff Evans is bobbled and the ball goes dead for a scrum.

57''

Smart play by the Azzurri takes them down the short side on the right through Andrea Lovotti and Dean Budd; Dee manages to force the turnover though and Wales get the penalty.

56''

Scrum to Italy now as Wales knock on trying to filch the ball from the maul breakdown.

54''

The Dragons proceed towards the Italian try-line with determination, working through the phases - but some sterling defence from Negri and Parisse wins the visitors a penalty that they put out 15m from the Welsh line to reverse the pressure.

52''

Williams' time in the bin is up - but it is Leigh Halfpenny who instead arrives, as the first substitution of the game for Wales.

50''

Yellow Card

A second Welsh yellow card and the Dragons are down to 13 men! Gareth Davies is sent to the bin for a deliberate knock-on after he clipped a ball from Marcello Violi. Italy look to make it count - and promptly lose the penalty line-out to Tipuric.

49''

The Azzurri crash their way downfield on the back of a great Negri run, pining the Welsh defence back into their 22.

47''

Wales aren't resting on their laurels and Tipuric almost cues up Tomas Francis followed by a Faletau half-break. It comes back to the blindside flanker in the end - and he concedes the penalty after Italy keep him from releasing in the tackle.

46''

Conversion

CONVERSION: Wales 24-7 Italy. Anscombe knocks the extras over to make it a seven-point score.

44''

Try

TRY: Wales 22-7 Italy. Cory Hill with the score! With a man down, Wales get their third try and the number-four lock his first for his country, with a simple wrap-around run next to the sticks after he out-muscles Parisse. That could be the game out of Italy's reach.

43''

We're back underway in Cardiff and Wales immediately put the pressure on Italy by forcing a defensive line-out. The Azzurri fail to take it cleanly - and after some confusion around the ruck, the Dragons get the attacking scrum five metres out on the right.

41''

It's a close affair of nip-and-tuck rugby in Cardiff as Wales take a double-digit lead into the break - but they will start a man down when they return to the field. A yellow card for Liam Williams is likely to cast a shadow over an otherwise composed showing by both sides, with excellent scores for Hadleigh Parkes, George North and Matteo Minozzi - at half-time, it's Wales 17-7 Italy.

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Yellow Card

A yellow card for Liam Williams! Wales are down to 14 men as the full-back is deemed to have landed a hit on his opposite number's neck with his shoulder - albeit accidentally - and the referee sends him to the bin. Italy simply tap their penalty out for the half-time whistle; it's the Dragons who lead at the break 17-7 in the NatWest 6 Nations in what has been an engaging, sparky encounter.

40'+3''

A penalty for Wales on the cusp of half-time gives the Dragons a chance to attack wide with a crossfield kick by North. Minozzi plucks it out and Liam Williams brings him to ground to force the drop-out. Players from both sides run in for a bit of a tussle though; the visitors are unhappy with the tackle and the referee asks for a second look on the TMO.

40''

Parisse shows some hithero unknown football skills as he fields and returns several Welsh kicks from the restart before the hosts eventually force a defensive line-out 15m out from the Italian line.

38''

Penalty Goal

PENALTY: Wales 17-7 Italy. Anscombe adds the penalty from bang in front and Wales open up a 10-point lead.

37''

Scrum to Italy after Parkes knocks on, but from the base, the visitors' first play sees them penalised for offside. Anscombe will go for the posts.

35''

Bradley Davies sparks the game alive again for a moment with a chip-and-chase down the right wing from halfway after a loose break; he can't beat Bellini though who touches down in-goal for a restart on the 22.

33''

Allan steps up and looks to have steered it over from distance - but the ball just drifts wide on the left of the sticks.

32''

Anscombe is penalised for coming off his feet in the tackle on Sergio Parisse and Italy will now go for the three points.

30''

Wales get a let-off on their own line as Italy concede a penalty for holding on in the tackle. They make good territory up to halfway and Anscombe sparks an exchange of clearing kicks to ease the pressure on the hosts.

28''

The visitors are awarded penalty advantage after Ghiraldini forces a maul collapse and a crossfield kick for Bellini just floats out. Italy will drill the ball back into touch again, only five metres out from the Welsh try-line.

26''

Play resumes after Allan gets medical attention and a moment later, he wins a penalty that he boots to touch to give his side a line-out 20m away from the Welsh line.

24''

After a protracted scrum Leonardo Ghiraldini drives close for Italy on the right - but on the next phase, the ball spills loose and Watkin punts it downfield in pursuit. Minozzi gets there first and Allan tries to return - only to be hit with a crunching tackle by Taulupe Faletau that sends him sprawling.

23''

A second Italian penalty now gives Allan the chance to march his side downfield - and his kick to touch is pin-point perfect, landing just shy of the left corner flag. The visitors get a scrum attack a moment later after a double knock-on in the ruck.

21''

The TMO confirms the referee's suspicions; Davies was a good three feet in front of Evans when he kicked back inside. Italy get the penalty and play themselves out to halfway.

19''

Is that a try for Gareth Davies? On the back of the scrum, Minozzi's clearing kick gives Wales a line-out just inside the opposition half which is flung wide to Steff Evans. Boxed in by two defenders, he chips inside and the scrum-half scoots in to touchdown. The referee isn't convinced; he wants a second opinion surrounding a potential offside call.

18''

Wales return the Italy line-out and clearing kick down the right flank and make good headway, coming up nine metres shy before a tricky offload foxes James Davies. Scrum to the visitors.

16''

An exchange of box kicks settles the game after those frentic early scores before Parkes sticks a good grubber into touch to force an Italian defensive line-out five yards out from their own try-line.

14''

A change for Italy in the midst of these early exchanges; Justin Hayward is on for Tommaso Castello who is off for a HIA.

12''

CONVERSION: Wales 14-7 Italy. Tommaso Allan faces a tough kick from the touchline but he floats it brilliantly between the uprights to cut the score to a single converted try.

11''

Try

TRY: Wales 14-5 Italy. What a score for Matteo Minozzi! The Italian fullback gets the ball as it is spread wide to the left wing and with a slick inside step, he sweeps around North and gets in at the corner with a dive. The Azzurri strike back at speed.

10''

Italy respond better this time and earn a penalty as they approach the Welsh 22 for a failure to clear the ruck by Parkes.

9''

Conversion

CONVERSION: Wales 14-0 Italy. Anscombe's kick looks to be drifting just wide on the right but just veers in at the post. A double converted score lead for the hosts inside 10 minutes.

7''

Try

TRY: Wales 12-0 Italy. Two tries in the space of two minutes for the Dragons! Owen Watkin picks off a blind offload in his own half by Sebastian Negri and goes 50m before flicking the pass to his outside on the right for George North to slide over in the corner. An imperious interception for an excellent score.

TRY: Wales 5-0 Italy. The hosts get the first score of the day, as Hadleigh Parkes spins through two defenders on the back of a delayed Gareth Davies pass to touch down on the left of the sticks. All too easy for Wales to open their account.

4''

Justin Tipuric hooks Elliot Dee's line-out in five metres away from the Italian line on the right and Wales turn on the pressure as they grind their way into centre-field.

4''

Italy get and win a line-out on halfway but they are unable to make serious headway before James Davies turns over possession and then wins a penalty advantage for an unclean ruck.

2''

We're underway in the final clash of the weekend in the NatWest 6 Nations! Italy kick off and George North returns with a clearing effort of his own in the early exchanges.

1''

The teams are out in Cardiff for the national anthems and we are moments away from kick-off.

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Italy captain Sergio Parisse is 60 metres away from becoming the first player to gain 3000 in Championship history; the last time he gained in excess of that total in a single game was against Wales in last year's campaign, when he manages 62m.

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If Italy are to get over the line, they're going to have to go through Cory Hill: the Welsh lock has made more tackles without a miss than any other player in this year's Championship, completing all 40 of his hits.

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Wales are just two tries away from scoring their 200th in the Championship since the turn of the century; crossing this milestone would leave Italy only one of two sides yet to reach it, alongside Scotland. The visitors will have to notch up a few scores of their own to compete today too; the Dragons have posted an average of over four tries per game under Gatland against the Azzurri.

Team news then, with contrasting approaches by both coaches ahead of today's crunch clash. Gatland has rung the changes – 10 of them, in fact – with the major headline being the return of Taulupe Faletau to the national side, as he takes over the captaincy in the absence of the rest Alun Wyn Jones. As for O'Shea, he makes a solitary recall; Giulio Bisegni returns to the international scene for the first time in a year as he replaces the injured Tommaso Boni.

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The odds are stacked against the visitors today when recent history is consulted; Italy are looking to avoid a 16th consecutive Championship loss against a team coached by a man who has a 100%-win record against the Azzurri. In addition, aside from a pair of losses to England, Wales are unbeaten at home in 12 games in the Championship – and have never lost to their continental opponents in their own back yard.

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Hello and welcome, from around the world, to the final match of the penultimate weekend of the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations as Wales host Italy at the Principality Stadium. Following on from an eventful Saturday that saw Ireland crowned Championship winners after France ground out a 22-16 win over England, attention turns to the fight to avoid the wooden spoon, with the Dragons looking for only their second win of the campaign. Can they find it against a winless Azzurri side in Cardiff and condemn them to the bottom of the pile once more? Or can Conor O'Shea's side make history and claim a first victory against Warren Gatland's outfit since 2007?

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